The last month of autumn is here! Despite the impending cold, we have exciting events to look forward all around South Africa.

Catch us at the 2012 Indaba Expo at the Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in Durban, between the 12th & 15th May, were we will be showcasing our various offerings.

Cape Town International Convention Centre hosts the ever popular Good Food & Wine show between the 24 – 27 May & the informative Marketing Indaba on the 10th May.

Excitingly, in April 2012 SAA announced their support of the South African Olympics teams. In celebration SAA has launched a "Paint the plane of Team South Africa" competition. The winner of the competition will win an all-expenses paid trip to the Olympic Games in London.

Undoubtedly even in the icy cold, South African rugby fans across the country will have their braais ablaze in support of the various rugby tournaments happening.

If you have not yet booked your ticket, to see your favorite sporting, commercial or entertainment event, or if you need some inspiration for a mid-year break, be sure to see our South African & African specials.

Until next time, travel safe!

Destination of the month — Buenos Aires

Landing in Buenos Aires, you will be immediately captivated by the striking architecture for which the Argentinian capital city is renowned.

The legacy of a fascinating colonial history, it mirrors the built-in diversity of the people. French, Italian and Spanish immigrants together with the Portenos (locals) give the city its multi-cultural vibrancy. It explains the visible trimmings of European sophistication such as opera houses, art spaces and pavement cafes.

Then there's the Latin passion: Learn the rhythm of the sensual tango or watch a game of football with the people who have perfected the sport.

Join us on our journey and exploration of one of the most alluring and passionate countries in the world armed with spectacular natural beauty.

Non-stop flight SA226 departs Johannesburg every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 09h50 and arrives in Buenos Aires at 16h10 local time the same day.

SAA's return non-stop flight from Buenos Aires departs every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 18h10, returning travelers to Johannesburg at 08h15 the following day.

SAA operates the Airbus A340-300 on the route, with individual, on-demand touch-screen entertainment systems, a pillow, blanket and amenity kit in every seat.

Experience SAA — UK Fast Track

Business Class travellers flying to London will be issued with a voucher onboard, enabling them to bypass the normal customs queues, getting you to desired destination, faster!

Local Spotlight — Durban

When you book your flight to Durban, you’re booking a flight to a place unlike any other. Home to the busiest port in South Africa, Durban boasts a lively atmosphere that you can’t help but want to be a part of. The minute you set your eyes on the Durban’s beachfront skyline, you’ll know you’ve arrived.

Be sure to experience uShaka Marine World who boasts a host of exotic marine animals and the best dolphin show in Southern Africa. If shopping is more your style, you are in for a treat, Gateway Theatre of Shopping is one of the biggest & most popular malls in Africa.

Book your seat with us and take flight on an adventure to the exciting, sophisticated cosmopolitan city of Durban, a place under which beats the pulse of Mother Africa.

SAA News

SAA Partners with SASCOC to Ferry Team South Africa to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Johannesburg, 10 April 2012 – South African Airways (SAA) on Tuesday announced its support and sponsorship of Team South Africa who will partake in the upcoming London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games.

The announcement, which comes close to 100 days before the start of the Games, was made at a signing ceremony jointly hosted by the SAA and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) at a South African Airways Technical hangar at the OR Tambo International Airport.

Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the SAA Board of Directors, Cheryl Carolus, said: “SAA, as a national carrier, has a long standing history of supporting various national activities. This agreement is another significant contribution to our national efforts and our company’s mission of bringing the world to Africa and taking Africa to the world. As the national carrier, we are thus honoured to support Team South Africa by flying them to London – backing them all the way in true South African style," Carolus said.

The sponsorship comes in the form of the issuance of air tickets which allows participating athletes and officials to fly the national carrier for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. The occasion was attended by a host of dignitaries including the Minister of Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba as well as the Minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula.

Addressing guests at the event, Minister Gigaba alluded to the significant role that state owned companies such as SAA can play in the developmental endeavours of the country. “This partnership attests to SAA's commitment and unquestionable support to the South African brand and the country's broader objectives. I am confident that this collaboration will spur on our athletes and encourage them to bring home the gold," Gigaba said.

Speaking on behalf of the Confederation, SASCOC President Gideon Sam thanked SAA for coming aboard for this exciting Olympics and Paralympics journey.

"I have to say that patience is indeed a virtue. We have been 'courting' SAA for some time now although we were obviously mindful that the current economic situation worldwide is impacting on all businesses.

"A chance meeting with the SAA Chairperson created that gap for us to raise the matter again. She was adamant that it would be over her dead body that the pride of South Africa must be transported to and from the Games on a foreign carrier. The rest is history and here we are today to say thank-you to a most welcome new partner.

"All South Africans will no doubt join us in thanking SAA for being so kind as to partner the sports movement in general and our athletes in particular."

SASCOC CEO Tubby Reddy also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to SAA. "It make perfect sense for the cream of our country's athletes to be flown by our world renowned national carrier and we are extremely grateful for SAA's involvement in this regard particularly in these tight financial times. And hopefully there will be additional extra baggage on the return journey in the form of some medals won by Team SA."

"The injection of cash and kind support in anyway necessary to help Team SA to perform well in the 2012 London spectacle, is welcomed. For Team SA, to make the country proud we need big business, state owned enterprises and all interested parties to invest their time, energies and trust in the team to bring us those medals. We are hopeful that by the time the departure day comes, we would have had many companies knocking at the Team SA door to inject more resources.". Minister Mbalula said.

Minister Mbalula further stated that all athletes must understand that they are our ambassadors and must focus their energies on ensuring that they sharpen their tools to represent the hopes of millions of South Africans.

About SAASouth African Airways (SAA) is the leading carrier in Africa, serving 20 destinations across the continent, as well as major destinations within South Africa, from its hub, Johannesburg. Owned by the South African Department of Public Enterprises, SAA is a member of the largest international airline network, Star Alliance. SAA’s core business is the provision of passenger airline and cargo transport services together with related services, which are provided through SAA and its four wholly owned subsidiaries: SAA Technical; Mango its low cost carrier; Air Chefs, the catering entity of SAA and South African Travel Centre (SATC). SAA CEO Siza Mzimela is the first woman to be appointed into the IATA Board of Governors in its 67 year history. SAA is the winner of the 'Best Airline in Africa’ Award in the regional category for 9 consecutive years and the winner of ‘Service Excellence Africa’ for two consecutive years. Mango and SAA hold the number one and number two successive spots as South Africa’s most on time airlines.

About SASCOCSASCOC is South Africa’s national multi-coded sporting body responsible for the preparation, presentation and performance of teams to all multi-coded events, namely the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Games, All Africa Games, Olympic Youth Games, Commonwealth Youth Games and Zone VI Games. SASCOC also looks after all our various National Federations who are affiliated to us, together with the various provincial sports councils. They are responsible for the awarding for National Protea Colours to athletes/officials who have met the criteria to represent South Africa in different sporting codes and arenas and also endorse the applications for Bidding and Hosting of international events, providing these criteria are all met.

Paint the Plane

School children and students, between the ages of seven and 21, are invited to allow their creative talents free reign and come up with an Olympic-themed design for one of our Airbus A340-600 aircraft.

This aircraft, on which the winning design will be painted by SAA, will proudly carry Team South Africa members to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games to be played from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, followed by the 2012 Paralympic Games from 29 August to 9 September 2012.

The winning entry will win an all-expenses paid trip to the Olympic Games in London.

How to enter: School children and students wishing to enter, can visit the airline's website at flysaa.com.

Partners of the month

Europcar

The Europcar and www.flysaa.com partnership has offered an remarkable reservation facility for several years. At the heart of the Europcar offer is the promise of outstanding customer service and an excellent fleet of vehicles to choose from. SAA customers can receive a car rental quote for travel with a flight or if they simply need the wheels. Through a dynamic pricing model, best available rates are offered for each quote request.

We are a global hospitality company with widely recognized, industry leading brands and a tradition of innovation developed over our more than fifty-year history. Our mission is to provide authentic hospitality by making a difference in the lives of the people we touch every day. We focus on this mission in pursuit of our goal of becoming the most preferred brand in each segment that we serve for our associates, guests, and owners. We support our mission and goal by adhering to a set of core values that characterizes our culture.

We manage, franchise, own and develop Hyatt branded hotels, resorts and residential and vacation ownership properties around the world. As of December 31, 2011, the company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 483 properties.